We’re back! Season 5 of Out of the Main picks up where we left off at the end of Season 4: with John’s cliffhanger! Did music production and artistry peak during the yacht rock years — beyond the confines of yacht rock itself? If so, why? Where else did we see the same attention to detail and emphasis on sophistication? When did it end, and why? Where are we headed going forward? All of these questions and more are answered in the first episode of Season 5! Dive in!  Listen and...

Our final intermission episode before next week's launch of Season 5 brings one of our all-time favorite guests: Tris Imboden. This first part of our two-part interview was the beginning of a wonderful relationship between Tom and John and one of music's true gems. Part 2 is here. Original show notes: Legendary session and touring drummer Tris Imboden climbs aboard the yacht rock podcast, “Out of the Main,” to discuss the yacht rock years, what’s happened since, and—yes!—what’s happening...

Digging through the archives as we get ready to launch Season 5 in a couple weeks and found this buried treasure — our first interview with Dane Donohue! The yacht rock legend joined the podcast to discuss life after rock and roll, his big break, the making of a masterpiece with hall of famers, and much, much more. Keith Barry, journalist with ⁠Narratively.com⁠, told the story we all needed to hear: whatever happened? Part one of a two-part interview with “the lost prince of yacht...

Our tour of the archives continue, while we prepare for Season 5. Here is Part 1 of our chat with Tamara and Bill Champlin when we caught up to them backstage before a concert in Dayton Ohio in 2022. Part 2 is here. Listen in to clips from their conversation: everything from singing technique to songwriting to performing live and working in the studio. We covered a lot and learned a lot, and you will two. It’s not just The Champ...it’s The Co-Champs! Keep tabs on Bill and Tamara and check...

During the inter-season hiatus, we will continue to post interviews from the archives. Here is one of our all-time favorite guests: Jay Graydon! We pick the conversation up with Part 2 of our three-part interview. Part 1 is here. Part 3 is here. Highlights from Part 2: The Rhodes’ comeback in modern music ⁠Watch Stefan Olofsson do his Al Jarreau and Steely Dan medleys on the Rhodes⁠ (scroll down once you click that link) The Jay Graydon “sonicscape” that transcended artists and...

For those new to the podcast, we are republishing previously released episodes until we kick off Season 5 in a few weeks. This week is Part 1 of our two-episode interview with Kenny Loggins, covering most of what was revealed in his memoir, "Still Alright," published in 2022. If you'd like to continue along with the conversation, part 2 can be found here (wherever you get your podcasts). References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist ...

Our favorite convention from the late 70s and early 80s: Everything had a Christmas Special! And every year, they would rerun the same holiday special specials and we never got tired of them. It was tradition! Our yacht rock podcast should be no different! John and Tom scour music-dom for the yachtiest yuletide merriment to bring your season glad “tide”-ings, including songs from the era and modern buried treasures from classic yacht rock artists.Who’s on your yachty list? Tell us tunes,...

Tom and John close out the fourth season of Out of the Main by clearing the decks of various odds and ends they’ve saved up over the course of the year but never got to. PLUS, some discussion of new music to come, as well as a look ahead to Season 5. NOTE: Here's that funk playlist John made. Thank you all for listening, and especially to those for supporting the podcast. We literally couldn’t do it without you!  See you all in 2024 for Season 5! Listen and Subscribe: Find the...

E23.46: Monkey House’s Don Breithaupt Tom knew him as one of the members of Monkey House. You might know him as the Emmy-award-winning composer and musician who has worked with the likes of Chicago, Marc Jordan, Jay Graydon and Manhattan Transfer. Others know him as the author of the “Aja” book, having interviewed Donald Fagan himself. And if you still don’t know him, tune in to get to know Don Breithaupt, a buried treasure hidden in plain sight and well worth learning all...

The Grammy-Award-winning first-call brass maestro Jerry Hey rejoins the podcast for part two of our  interview. Learn the back story, hear his process, and tune in for some intriguing and informative anecdotes. Beginning even before yacht rock all the way up to recent gigs, you won’t want to miss a beat! If you want to hear our original tribute episode to Jerry Hey “Beast Mode,” that can be found here. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and...

The man behind countless memorable horn arrangements and countermelodies, Jerry Hey, joins the podcast for a two-part interview. Learn the back story, hear his process, and tune in for some intriguing and informative anecdotes. Beginning even before yacht rock all the way up to recent gigs, you won’t want to miss a beat! If you want to hear our original tribute episode to Jerry Hey “Beast Mode,” that can be found here. Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast platform of your choice...

John Zaika, the filmmaker behind the forthcoming Bobby Kimball documentary “Kite on a String,” returns to the podcast to answer the most-asked question on our YouTube channel: “When is the Bobby Kimball story coming out?!” John provides updates, shares new stories, and reveals things we never knew about the living legend who once fronted Toto. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify...

Captain G climbs aboard to take the class to school on the history of disco, including its relation and adjacency to yacht rock. On loan from Yacht Rock Miami, DJ Alex brings us back to the 70s and the origin of disco, including the differences between New York, west-coast, and Miami disco. Were there any crossovers between disco and what we know today as yacht rock? Let’s go to school to find out! Submitted for your listening pleasure: Disco Meets Yacht Rock Lightning Round: Found...

It’s the crossover episode we’ve all been waiting for! No, not The Simpsons meets Family Guy. Not Fonzie appearing on Laverne & Shirley. Not Chicago first responders crossing the streams on shows that nobody watches anyway… It’s Out of the Main meets Shelter at Sea, featuring the Hot Shyachts from Milwaukee Yacht Rock themselves, John O'Grady and Prescott Sobol! This week, our show teams up with theirs to take a deep dive 🛎️ into the history of Christian Contemporary Music,...

Love is in the air this week on Out of the Main, as we return for another “Who Wore It Best” episode. (Spotify playlist link.) Now entering the ring: “Can’t Hide Love” Earth, Wind & Fire Jaye P. Morgan Dionne Warwick “It’s the Falling In Love” Michael Jackson Carole Bayer Sager Dionne Warwick “Love Never Felt So Good” Johnny Mathis Paul Anka Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Reb Yamamoto Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast...

In honor of Halloween, John and Tom devote an entire episode to the dissection, admiration and analysis of Atlanta Rhythm Section's "Spooky." Until you've studied it, you haven't truly heard it. Break out the headphones, people! Do you know the full history behind the song? How much do you know about the genesis of Atlanta Rhythm Section? Are you aware of the many, many versions of the song, dating back to the 1960s? PLUS, don’t miss Tom’s “Halloween on the Yacht” Spotify...

What are the best grooves out there, in yacht rock and nearby? John and Tom discuss the making of a great groove and run down each of their own top-five list (sort of) of best grooves of all time. Don’t miss the teaser in the intro/outro music: Sunrise on the Water, by Page 99 and featuring the legend himself, Dane Donohue! Now available everywhere! Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s...

Another installment of “Where Were They Then,” Out of the Main’s answer to Where are they now?  A “special” guest co-host joins the podcast to help us examine the post-yacht-rock career and catalogue of David Sanborn, one of session-dom’s finest! How did he fare as a featured solo act? Just fine, thank you! What was the “heyday?” Marcus Miller, the partner in crime Was Sanborn a product — or the genesis — of a social awakening to “sexy sax?” Who are the yachty cats that came along...

Tom and John steer the helm across the pond to discover the connections and correlatives (yes, that’s a word) between the yacht-rocky west coast sound with the emergence of “sophistipop” shortly after the yacht rock heyday. What were the tie-ins. Are there comparisons to be made? Were there influences, or just coincidences. And, of course, what is there to discuss regarding personnel? More than you might think... Is there such thing as “Sophisti-Yacht?” You be the judge. Plus, Tom’s...

You know that one song by your favorite artists that just doesn’t connect with you, no matter how hard you try? What are you supposed to do with that — love it or leave it?  This week, John and Tom present 10 artists to one another, sharing their favorite song by each along with one track that just doesn’t fill their sails for whatever reason. For song 2 in each pair, what are we to do...love ‘em or leave ‘em? You decide! What are your Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em selections? Hit us up on...

Listener/Supporter Jonathan is back to walk us through Side 2 of the Donal Fagen solo album “The Nightfly.” Back to the history books, and to a finale to the sonic appreciation for what many thought to be “the next Steely Dan album.” Part 2 of 2. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Yacht or Nyacht? The Official Yachtski Scale Playlist of songs featured...

Listener/Supporter Jonathan joins the guys for an in-depth examination of the Donal Fagen solo album “The Nightfly.” There’s a lot of history here — much of it new to John and Tom — so maybe you’ll even learn a li’l something. Jonathan brings the goods and drops the dimes. Part 1 of 2. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Yacht or Nyacht? The Official...

Jock Bartley, founding member of Firefall, rejoins the podcast to discuss the making of Firefall’s latest project, “Friends and Family,” dropping in September. There are some familiar names on this homage to acts that Firefall has either shared a stage with, had members in, or recorded with over the years — Tris Imboden and Lance Hoppen among them. Plus, a host of newcomers to the band...all coming together to make a rockin’ record will all of the hallmarks of vintage Firefall. Tune in to...

Self-described “second-call studio musician” Marty Walsh has chronicled his own life and times serving as a studio cat for hire during (and after) the yacht rock era. He joins Tom and John to provide an inside look at a west-coast studio session from the golden era of music production that we adore.  Rubbing shoulders with the Jay Graydons, David Fosters and Michael Omartians of the world, Marty has stories to tell and secrets to reveal. Tune in to get a...second-hand look (?) at the...

“What is a perfect album side?” was the question posited by second-rate first mate John online. Name an album for which one side is perfect, regardless of what’s on the other side. It was more difficult than expected, apparently, because answers were hard to come by. Well, we must’ve gone through the Bermuda Triangle again, because we landed on Journey’s Frontiers. From southern California to the Bay Area, how did we end up here? And what, if any, are the ties to yacht rock and west coast...